Preseason: OKC Thunder @ Utah Jazz

[QuantumMacgyver]

Both Williams are gonna be big for us! I love Marvin's defense and Mo's speed and attitude are great! Loved seeing him jaw Maynor after that quick pullup three.

Kanter is showing some incredible progression, while Favors was definitely disappointing offensively. Defensively still a beast tho, needs to find a way to stay out of foul trouble tho.

Would like to see more out of Foye, but he definitely hasn't looked bad. Burks is looking deadly.

Big Al looked good, but we all knew he would bounce back, and we know what he is capable of. Would've liked to see more plays run for other players with Al on the floor.

[Neon Black]

This is why you don't vehemently determine that Mo Williams is "bad for this team" and should be "traded immediately" after one preseason game. You know who you are. Also, where are all the Kanter haters at? The guy has more offense than Favors by far. You impatient ba*tards.

[Soul Patch]

This is why you don't vehemently determine that Mo Williams is "bad for this team" and should be "traded immediately" after one preseason game. You know who you are. Also, where are all the Kanter haters at? The guy has more offense than Favors by far. You impatient ba*tards.

I love you.

[Joao Saraiva]

I admit I got scared about Kanter's production last year. I hope he really can turn into a great C.

Mo Williams on the other hand I always believed he can be a good piece for this team. He may not be that consistent but at least he can score a lot on many nights.

[Hoops Addict]

This is why you don't vehemently determine that Mo Williams is "bad for this team" and should be "traded immediately" after one preseason game. You know who you are. Also, where are all the Kanter haters at? The guy has more offense than Favors by far. You impatient ba*tards.

+1

2 minutes of video

Near the end is Kanter's dunk from 3 angles.

Admit it......he has improved........he is a bull...nice footwork.

Did you see him easily can the open 16 foot jumper right of the free throw line after the dunk?

He can shoot. From 15 feet and in ...his shot looks very fluid and nice form.

[Hoops Addict]

Guess who had the DUNK OF THE NIGHT on nba.com????????????



http://www.nba.com/video/games/jazz/201 ... index.html

The UnderKanter

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I'm happy to see how Kanter has progressed, but I wouldn't get too high of hopes for him just yet. He's playing against mediocre competition and he still has some series lapses of terribleness... I'm still expecting a very up and down year from him. Still going to need lots of patience with him.

Anyone else EXTREMELY frustrated that they won't run anything for Favors on the offense end???? They wouldn't post him up EVER and they rarely run a pick and roll or ANYTHING else for him. He's never going to develop an offensive game if they never let him do anything on offense...

Hayward was fantastic last night too. I also thought that Foye and Marvin were solid. Marvin is going to be huge for this team....

Also, that starting lineup = nasty defense. The length caused havoc for the Thunder... we had a lot of steals and blocks with that lineup in there. Loved it.

[QuantumMacgyver]

I'm happy to see how Kanter has progressed, but I wouldn't get too high of hopes for him just yet. He's playing against mediocre competition and he still has some series lapses of terribleness... I'm still expecting a very up and down year from him. Still going to need lots of patience with him.

Anyone else EXTREMELY frustrated that they won't run anything for Favors on the offense end???? They wouldn't post him up EVER and they rarely run a pick and roll or ANYTHING else for him. He's never going to develop an offensive game if they never let him do anything on offense...

Hayward was fantastic last night too. I also thought that Foye and Marvin were solid. Marvin is going to be huge for this team....

Also, that starting lineup = nasty defense. The length caused havoc for the Thunder... we had a lot of steals and blocks with that lineup in there. Loved it.

Cole Aldrich and SERGE IBAKA... The same Serge Ibaka that led the league in blocks last year. I thought Kanter did a lot of things right last night. He took it hard to ALdrich and kept his distance from Ibaka by utilizing his jumpshot. I also loved seeing him back down Thabeet, it didn't work, but I liked that he took it to him.

[jazzfan1971]

There was still a lot of the old Kanter in there. By that I mean getting the blinders on when he gets the ball in the post. Turning the ball over.

I do like the added athleticism though. He's still gonna have troubles with double teams at this point.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Cole Aldrich and SERGE IBAKA... The same Serge Ibaka that led the league in blocks last year. I thought Kanter did a lot of things right last night. He took it hard to ALdrich and kept his distance from Ibaka by utilizing his jumpshot. I also loved seeing him back down Thabeet, it didn't work, but I liked that he took it to him.

I can't remember Ibaka ever matching up with Kanter... Ibaka was on Favors almost the entire night. Kanter went up against Aldrich, Thabeet (who he struggled against) and Collison.

[Jazzfan12]

I don't think there's anything to take away from this game at all in terms of how players are going to play this year with the Thunder playing Aldrich, Thabeet, Lazar, and Jackson so much.

Was nice to see all the guys playing really hard though.

[Lava Rock Kid]

THis team would have very little offense from the big men if Al leaves. Favors cant score and I dont think kanter is ready for 30 minutes a night and can carry the scoring load for 30 minutes a night. We all know Millsap will go through stretches of being the man offensively then he will disappear for a month.

I dont get all the Jefferson haters, he is no karl malone for sure, but their is no Karl Malones available.

[jazzfan1971]

I don't know why you wouldn't get the haters. The points are pretty clear.

1- He doesn't get the the free throw line. This means he isn't getting the easy points and putting opponents into foul trouble or the penalty. This drives me crazy at times when he's an easy one bounce and dunk away from the rim and he throws up a 6 foot weezy instead.

2- He can't guard the pick and roll to save his life. Opposing guards run in and jump over him like he isn't even there. For some reason Jefferson can't get off the floor if he's moving backwards or sideways like most rim protecting bigs can. He can get up just fine otherwise. This lack of ability is easily exploitable by opposing teams. Perhaps Corbin can devise a system to mask this deficiency, but, I haven't seen it yet.

3- He doesn't run the floor. Have you ever seen Jefferson get out on the fast break for a dunk? I can't remember one time. So yet another spot where Jefferson could get easy buckets that he's passing up.

4- He's not much of a passer. Some would call him a black hole. I don't think he's THAT bad, but, definitely not a guy who can direct an offense, very limited in passing. Almost never finds a cutter for an easy layup.


Long story short, Jefferson is a guy who makes a living with hard shots and is a defensive liability. It's not clear that the Jazz are a better team with him on the floor or say Favors. Not clear to me anyway.

[Neon Black]

Yes, Kanter still has many deficiencies and things he's gotta work on. I'm ok with that. Why?

He's only played one lockout-shortened NBA season without a training camp, after sitting out college. It's like his 6th year playing basketball his whole life.

Sure, he did it against scrubs, but think of all the veteran big men in the NBA that could NEVER have a night like that in the first place.

All I'm saying is that the potential is there, and you'd have to be trying very hard not to see it.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I don't know why you wouldn't get the haters. The points are pretty clear.

1- He doesn't get the the free throw line. This means he isn't getting the easy points and putting opponents into foul trouble or the penalty. This drives me crazy at times when he's an easy one bounce and dunk away from the rim and he throws up a 6 foot weezy instead.

2- He can't guard the pick and roll to save his life. Opposing guards run in and jump over him like he isn't even there. For some reason Jefferson can't get off the floor if he's moving backwards or sideways like most rim protecting bigs can. He can get up just fine otherwise. This lack of ability is easily exploitable by opposing teams. Perhaps Corbin can devise a system to mask this deficiency, but, I haven't seen it yet.

3- He doesn't run the floor. Have you ever seen Jefferson get out on the fast break for a dunk? I can't remember one time. So yet another spot where Jefferson could get easy buckets that he's passing up.

4- He's not much of a passer. Some would call him a black hole. I don't think he's THAT bad, but, definitely not a guy who can direct an offense, very limited in passing. Almost never finds a cutter for an easy layup.


Long story short, Jefferson is a guy who makes a living with hard shots and is a defensive liability. It's not clear that the Jazz are a better team with him on the floor or say Favors. Not clear to me anyway.

And yet I'd still trade Millsap before him.